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Post by anzuhana on Apr 29, 2010 15:57:35 GMT -5
^ I like that it was Mary Anne that narrated this mystery as well.
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Post by zoar3 on Aug 10, 2011 15:46:40 GMT -5
Aw, I really liked this one it actually had (a little bit anyway) an "older days of BSC" feel to it. I loved when Sharon told Mary Anne that Granny gave her (S) the bracelet on prom night possibly as a way of apologizing for her treatment of Richard. I had hoped for more on that such as MA saying "as much as I've come to love Granny and Pop-Pop," it took awhile for me to feel completely comfortable with them." Something to that affect to show how awkward it might have been to meet them initially. I also always wished we had seen the Porters apologize to Richard or at least give their blessings on the marriage.
As for the subplot, the addition sounded awfully extensive, probably expensive, to me. I still don't get how that was cheaper than a moving into a bigger house right off the bat. I smiled when Eddie moved the truck to reveal the playhouse; sweet moment. He did sound like a good guy. I must say the tool shed must have been HUGE to have held the playhouse. I never "got" how that worked either. Overall a better read than a lot of the later others, certainly a far cry from the next book about Abby and Erin.
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Post by shannon86 on Aug 10, 2011 16:01:09 GMT -5
I really loved this book a lot! This is the best Mystery ever and the plot is just well written and I love the bonding between Mary Anne and Dawn's Grandmother.
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Post by wiggir13 on Aug 13, 2011 19:03:54 GMT -5
I really liked this book except for the added money buried in the back yard mystery! Was that even necessary to the book at all? I liked the focus on the old letters and the music box and of course they had to have some sort of subplot. I really enjoyed that MA learned the truth and kept it to herself. I would have liked to read what story she came up with to tell the BSC b/c you know she isn't a very good liar!
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Post by zoar3 on Aug 13, 2011 20:01:14 GMT -5
^Thinking about it, the buried money in the backyard happened in "Dawn and the Halloween Mystery!" No, it was not at all necessary in this one, especially since MA's grandparents were not directly involved or at home! Lol, to MA's "story." I wonder if she ever did tell anyone?
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oldhickory
Sitting For The Arnolds
Heather Loves Boys and Gym
Posts: 3,262
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Post by oldhickory on Aug 15, 2011 13:03:28 GMT -5
i like to think that she kept it a secret. some things don't need to be shared with your entire group of friends. i also like that stacey kept david/terry's secret too.
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Post by virgoscorpio on Jul 26, 2012 18:48:38 GMT -5
i love this one but find it slightly creepy for some reason. not sure why. Maybe because Mary Anne seemed slightly hormonal and possessive of "her sailor"? ~ About the cover: Notice how Mary Anne has piled - what looks like photographs - neatly beside her AND PLACED THEM IN THE WATER!? What gives? Also, I never really noticed this before but look at her necklace. The beaded one reminds me of the necklaces made out hemp, which would make sense because those were popular at the time this book was published. Maybe Dawn made it for her!? ~ I liked the dream parts but wish something more was made out of it. I made up in my head that Mary Anne might have been connected with the sailor in a past life. Maybe she was even Lydia!? ~ Dawn would be so pissed if she was around. First Mary Anne is cuddling up to Sharon and then she gets a secret with Dawn's Granny. For someone who gets pissed when their friends get makeovers without them, I'm sure she'd be annoyed at this. Looks like Dawn's been replaced (just kidding!) ~ For any Canadians, I actually remember buying this book at Zellers when it first came out.
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starrynight
Sitting For The Kuhns
The Royal Diner of Pizza Express
Posts: 4,004
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Post by starrynight on Jul 26, 2012 20:27:52 GMT -5
^ Is Zellers the Canadian version of Boders (RIP) or Barnes and Noble?
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Post by virgoscorpio on Jul 26, 2012 20:40:28 GMT -5
^ No, Zellers would be the US equivalent of Target. Actually, I think they've been bought out by Target!
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oldhickory
Sitting For The Arnolds
Heather Loves Boys and Gym
Posts: 3,262
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Post by oldhickory on Jul 26, 2012 21:51:48 GMT -5
Dawn would be so pissed if she was around. First Mary Anne is cuddling up to Sharon and then she gets a secret with Dawn's Granny. For someone who gets pissed when their friends get makeovers without them, I'm sure she'd be annoyed at this. Looks like Dawn's been replaced (just kidding!) i actually really like the idea that everyone might be keeping this a secret from dawn. almost like they know dawn would be pissed and they don't even want to deal with it.
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Post by zoar3 on Jul 26, 2012 23:08:17 GMT -5
^I love it! It totally seemed like MA bonded with Granny more than Dawn ever did. Too bad they never met up again. I would have enjoyed reading about her and MA talking about past history.
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Post by virgoscorpio on Jul 27, 2012 13:48:02 GMT -5
It was nice to see Mary Anne bonding with Dawn's family and it was nice to see that although Dawn and Jeff moved back to California that Sharon still got to have a relationship with a daughter (that lives with her). In a way things worked out because, in the end, Mary Anne and Sharon both got a family. I wonder if Mary Anne and Dawn didn't meet and Jeff still wanted to go back to California if Sharon would have been by herself. I'm sure Dawn wouldn't have gone anyway if her Mom was by herself. But who knows, maybe she could have married the Trip Man and Dawn wouldn't have liked him and wanted to leave because of that
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Post by wenonah4th on Feb 9, 2013 11:43:51 GMT -5
i'm in the middle of this and I absolutely picture my own grandparents' basement. Probably not at all similar, because their house was a rancher with a full and well utilized basement.
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Post by anzuhana on Jun 13, 2014 19:17:28 GMT -5
Rereading this book, I can't help but think of the film Titanic when Granny told Mary Anne that the sailor, Frank, was her first love. I was curious if this book was slightly inspired by the movie but when I looked to see when it was published, it was published in August 1997, four months before Titanic was released.
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Post by zoar3 on Jun 18, 2014 9:58:54 GMT -5
I enjoyed reading about MA and Granny sounding closer and their phone conversation from the cruise ship came across as if they talked often which was cool, I hope they did and do. I loved Sharon. Her good morning note to MA was so sweet (page 86). I really wish their relationship had been better developed. One of my favorite scenes was at the end when Buddy was leading new house tours for all his guests and of course when Eddie moved his truck to reveal the playhouse. Still not quite understanding how adding what comes across as an expensive addition would be cheaper than moving into a larger home or perhaps town-home in the first place but am glad this worked for the Barrett -DeWitts. The mystery itself didn't do a whole lot for me--it reminded me a little of Georgio and Lydia from Haunted House. (This book it was Johnny and Lydia). I had not read this in forever so it was a nice, almost summer read
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